Considering Being a Living Donor? Here's What to Expect
Being a living donor is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. By donating a kidney, you can, quite literally, save a life. With the Alliance for Paired Kidney Donation’s kidney matching program, you can even help a loved one get a kidney by donating to someone else, even if you are not a match for your loved one. If you are considering this life-giving gift, you may be wondering what to expect from the process. Donation is possible if you have two healthy kidneys and are a match for the recipient, and you can also donate through our kidney exchange program even if you aren't a match for your loved one. You can function well with one kidney, and your donated kidney can give the recipient a new lease on life. Yet there are likely some questions about the process in your mind, so here is what you can expect. What to Expect Before Surgery About a week before surgery, you will go to a pre-surgical meeting with the recipient and both people’s family support. This meet